Elizabethtown Community Hospital today announced that construction is under way on a new High Peaks Health Center building in Wilmington. The new 3,000 square foot facility is being built directly behind the existing 875 square foot health center at 7 Community Circle, on land donated by the Town of Wilmington. The health center currently shares space with the town offices.

“We’re really excited to kick off construction of the new health center,” said Matt Nolan, VP and chief operating officer at Elizabethtown Community Hospital. “The current space is very small, making it challenging for both patients and clinical staff to move throughout the space efficiently. The new space will ensure that our patient can receive the best care in the most efficient, well-designed space.”

Elizabethtown Community Hospital has owned and operated its High Peaks Health Center since 2008, providing access to primary care services to the residents of the Wilmington area. High Peaks Health Center has served countless patients and their family members over the years. In 2017, High Peak Health Center had more than 2,500 patient visits.

The Town of Wilmington supported the construction of the new facility recognizing that it would benefit the town, the health center and the community. Currently, the town offices share the 1,000 square foot building with the health center giving neither organization adequate space.

The newly constructed health center will allow the offices to gain much-needed space, while ensuring that Wilmington residents and visitors have access to important primary care services in the local area. The new health center will be efficiently designed, ensuring that patients and clinical staff are more comfortable, with increased privacy.

According to Town of Wilmington Supervisor Randy Preston, the board’s decision to donate the land for the new health center demonstrated his respect for the organization. “It is vitally important to me that people in this area continue to be well cared-for,” he said. “Elizabethtown Community Hospital’s network of community-based health centers ensures that people throughout our region have access to that care. We are delighted to be able to partner with the hospital for our community’s well-being.”

Nolan also spoke the community support for the project. “Supervisor Preston and the entire town board have been incredibly supportive of this project,” he said. “They understand the importance of offering access to health care throughout our rural communities and fully support the hospital’s dedication to providing that access. We have received so many positive comments from both town board and community members; it’s exciting to be part of this community.”

The hospital owns a network of community-based health centers throughout Essex County, believing that it is vitally important to offer health care to residents of, and visitors to, the Essex County region. “High Peaks Health Center patients are also hospital patients,” said Hospital President John Remillard. “We want to ensure that people throughout the region continue to receive quality health care close to home. Construction of a modern, efficient health center in Wilmington allows our organization to continue to provide important access to care.”

The construction is expected to be completed this fall.